U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the use of women as "weapons of war" in eastern Congo must stop and the government of Democratic Republic of Congo must do more to address the problem of rape.

Clinton arrived in the capital Kinshasa from neighbouring Angola for a two-day visit that will include a trip to Goma, capital of the violent North Kivu province which aid groups say is the most dangerous place on earth for women and children.

"It should be a mark of shame," said Clinton, who said women were being used as "weapons of war" in eastern Congo and that she would press Congo's government hard to do more to combat the atrocities and prosecute offenders.

"We have to speak out against impunity of those in positions of authority who either commit these crimes or condone them," she added in a speech to university students in Kinshasa. (emphasis added)